1. Is China a party to the 1969 Hague Convention Abolishing the Requirement of Legalization for Foreign Public Documents?

No.

China is not a party to the above-mentioned Convention, but the Convention is applicable in Hong Kong SAR and Macao SAR.

2. Does the Consulate bear responsibility for the contents of the documents authenticated?

No.

Consular authentication by the Chinese Embassy is merely the attestation to the veracity of the signature of an official and seal or stamp of FCO attached to the document. Neither the Consul nor the Embassy verifies as to the accuracy, truth, legality or otherwise the contents of the document. Nevertheless, an authentication application would be declined if the contents of a document contravene laws or regulations of the People's Republic of China.

3. Does the legalization have expire date?

Yes.

A Single Status Certificate must have the legalization done by the FCO and the Chinese Embassy within 3 months after its issuance. The Single Status Certificate will have a validity of 6 months after being authenticated by the Chinese Embassy. The documents related to marriage, health, tax bill and police clearance for the purpose of adoption must be legalized by the FCO and the Chinese Embassy within 6 months after their issuance.

4. Can I apply for notarization from the Chinese Embassy for documents executed in China?

No.

Documents executed in China to be used in foreign countries must complete the following procedures:

1) Documents should be notarized by a Notary Public in China;

2) Documents should be authenticated by a provincial Office of Foreign Affairs Office or the Consular Department of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs;

3) Documents should be authenticated by an Embassy or Consulate General of the relevant country in China.

5. Can application for legalization of documents be mailed to Chinese Embassy?

No.

The Embassy does not accept application by mail. Therefore, the applicant or his/her designated representative must come to the Embassy in person.